Atalanta Drops Hint Over Ademola Lookman’s Future After Announcing Champions League Squad
- Ademola Lookman has been included in Atalanta’s UEFA Champions League squad despite his ongoing transfer saga
- Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Tottenham, and Galatasaray are all linked with the Nigerian forward this summer
- Atalanta values Lookman at €50m and insists the Super Eagles forward will only leave on a permanent deal outside Italy
Atalanta have dropped a major hint regarding Ademola Lookman’s immediate future after naming the Super Eagles forward in their official squad for the UEFA Champions League.
The 2024 CAF Player of the Year winner has been locked in a summer-long standoff with the Serie A club, pushing for a move away following strong interest from Inter Milan and, later on, Bayern Munich.
Source: Getty Images
Lookman was at the centre of heated negotiations after Inter Milan reportedly submitted three bids, including a €42m plus €3m bonus package, which Atalanta turned down.
The Bergamo club stood firm in their valuation, insisting the Nigerian winger could only leave on a permanent basis and to a club outside of Italy.
Bayern Munich and Premier League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, were also linked with a late move, but no deal materialised before the summer transfer window shut.
Atalanta plan to make amends with Lookman
Despite the tensions, Lookman has been named in Atalanta’s Champions League squad, a decision that signals the Bergamo club may be ready to bring him into the team, Football Italia reports.
Source: Getty Images
The Super Eagles forward had been training separately after going AWOL for two weeks in protest at his blocked transfer and was left out of Atalanta’s opening Serie A matches this season.
The inclusion in the UCL squad suggests that Atalanta still values Lookman as a key player, especially after his standout 2023/24 season, where he scored 20 goals, provided seven assists, and was crowned the 2024 CAF Player of the Year.
Atalanta’s squad list for the UCL includes Lookman alongside Gianluca Scamacca, Charles De Ketelaere, and Daniel Maldini in attack, reflecting the club’s intent to rely on his talents this season.
What next for Lookman and Atalanta?
Lookman’s future remains uncertain, with Galatasaray emerging as a potential suitor as the Turkish club could be prepared to meet Atalanta’s demands and buy him outright, Turkiye Today reports.
Atalanta, however, seems intent on keeping the Nigerian for the Champions League campaign, despite tensions over broken promises.
Reports suggest the Bergamo club initially assured Lookman he could leave this summer, but changed their stance once Inter Milan became the leading bidder.
For now, it is unclear if the Nigerian forward is bent on repairing his relationship with Atalanta as they prepare for Europe’s biggest stage.
Whether his Champions League involvement is a genuine show of faith or simply a short-term measure to protect his market value remains to be seen.
EPL club working on Lookman deal
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur are making frantic efforts to complete the transfer of Ademola Lookman.
With the summer transfer window closing by midnight on September 1, it remains uncertain where the reigning African Player of the Year will play this season.
Source: Legit.ng
